The NSW government has called for applications for the second round of its collaborative solutions program with a project to focus on the development of mobile technologies to improve government services.

Deputy premier and minister for trade and investment, Andrew Stoner, said the next round off the program, called Mobile Government, will provide up to $1 million over the next year to support consortiums develop mobile solutions for the public sector.

“This program will accelerate development of new-to-market and significantly innovative mobile solutions that have significant potential for commercial success, job creation and exports.”

Applications are scheduled to open on 17 November with the grants to fund between five and 10 projects, depending on the submissions received.

Submissions must exhibit solutions developed for delivery via mobile phones or tablet device, Stoner said, and would potentially have features including wireless broadband, mobile computing, mobile payments, location based services, augmented reality, mobile social media or sensor technologies.

Solutions will be matched and trialled with agencies within the Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services, which encompasses tasks like economic development, primary industries, tourism and the arts.

“Trialling the solutions with the NSW government will provide consortiums with a low cost and low risk opportunity to fine tune and validate their technologies while providing a valuable and trusted reference site for promoting future domestic and international sales.”

“Improvements delivered to the public sector could include better government-to-public or government-to-business interactions, reduced costs, faster processing, and more positive customer engagements.”

Submissions close on 29 February 2012 with successful applicants being announced in March.

Copyright 2018 IDG Communications. ABN 14 001 592 650. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of IDG Communications is prohibited.